These versatile native and nativar selections are perfect for most southwestern gardens, regardless of elevation and zone
Not all plant expand everywhere , especially in a region as various as theSouthwest . peak , hardiness zone , and even where you locate a plant life in your pace all converge to create endlessmicroclimates . But there are a good number of works that will perform well nearly everywhere in the Southwest . Here are a few of my preferent aboriginal and native hybrid plants , which I have grown faithfully in both Denver and Tucson , a fact that emphasize their adaptability .
Agaves
Agavespp . and cvs . , Zones 5–12
Not all American aloe are suitable for everyone in the Southwest . The farther south you go , the more species you could produce , but the follow three American aloe are cold hardy and seem to thrive anywhere , as long as they get plenty of sunshine and practiced drainage . They make sheer , sculptural anchors in a Southwest garden .
New Mexico agave
New Mexico agave ( century plant parryisubsp.neomexicana , Zones 5–11 ) typically has blue - green leaves with uniform teeth and telling black - whirl tips . It can mature up to 30 inches in diameter , and at 10 to 15 eld it may grow a 12 - foot - marvellous efflorescence stalk that draws in bees and hummingbirds . little offsets will perpetuate the plant life once the main russet scab has flowered and died . Havard ’s agave(Agave havardiana , Zones 5–10 ) is like to New Mexico agave but looks greener , has wider leaves , is bigger , and is less inclined to grow many offsets .
Toumey’s agave
Toumey ’s agave ( Agave toumeyana var.bella , Zones 5–10 ) is a tiny gem compare to the previous two mentioned . It form rosettes just 6 to 8 column inch in diameter , which offset freely . This century plant is a treasure for a tilt garden or perennial border . Its slender light-green leaves are strip in silver medal along their gross profit .
Desert willow
Chilopsis linearis , geographical zone 6–11
Almost any desert willow will produce in a gay southwest garden . sure cultivars have been selected with special seedpod production , and these are tidier during their deciduous wintertime season . Desert willow ’s peak flower in fertile Wave during the warm time of year , attractinghummingbirdsand otherpollinators . In cooler zone , locate them with southeasterly exposure and ensure good drainage . Here are some of my favorite desert willow cultivars .
‘Bubba’ desert willow
‘ Bubba ’ desert willow ( genus Chilopsis linearis‘Bubba ’ , Zones 6–11 ) features upright increase with bright leaves , deeply pink to burgundy flowers that blossom over a long season , and minimal seedpod . This flora ’s flowers have one of the best colors of the species , and I ’ve noticed more fragrance from them equate to other desert willow heyday .
‘Art’s Seedless’ desert willow
‘ Art ’s Seedless ’ desert willow ( Chilopsis linearis‘Art ’s Seedless ’ , Zones 6–11 ) has more spreading growth than ‘ Bubba ’ , with blooms a chip light pink . It ’s noted for its cosmopolitan deficiency of seedpods , yet it still has plentiful flush for the hummingbirds to bask .
Autumn sage
Salviagreggii , Zones 6–10
There are innumerable species , hybrids , and varieties ofsalviasthat thrive in the desert , but among the most durable is aboriginal autumn salvia . grow as lasting shrubs in warm gardens , they perform as die - back shrub in cooler region of the region . A quick dress down to about 4 inch in fountain will provide a tidy flora all time of year long . Autumn sage ’s blossom period is tenacious , starting in midspring and slack a piece in summer ’s heat but then resurging vigorously as evenings cool off afterwards in the year . Hummingbirds bonk this plant , along with bumblebees and other pollinators . Here are a few of my favorite autumn sages .
‘Wild Thing’ autumn sage
‘ Wild Thing ’ fall salvia ( Salvia greggii‘Wild Thing ’ , Zones 6–10 ) is a long - subsist shrub that will get 2 groundwork tall and 3 feet wide with a full-bodied drug abuse . It blooms all summertime with open spike of red - pink flowers that cover its mounding drug abuse of growth . Hummingbirds absolutely flock to this flora .
‘Mesa Azure’ salvia
‘ Mesa Azure ’ salvia ( Salvia‘Mesa Azure ’ , Zones 7–9 ) is a hybrid thought to be a combination of fall salvia and child sage ( Salvia microphylla , Zones 7–11 ) . This sage is a favorite of mine , with lavender - blue flowers that are punishing to find from a tender salvia . Its dip flush of coolblue bloomsis an essential full complement to the many lemon and gold colour from industrial plant at that time of class .
Cacti
Cactiare everywhere in the Southwest , but not everyone is comfortable around them . examine some of the less spiny one , or the more compact ones that can serve as well - behaved accents . Better yet , spring up them up in durable ceramiccontainersso you do n’t trip upon them accidentally while working in the garden . There are many cold - fearless cacti , such as the following , that are suitable for the colder zones of the Southwest as well as warmer areas .
‘Coombe’s Winter Glow’ prickly pear cactus
‘ Coombe ’s Winter Glow ’ prickly pear cactus ( Opuntiaaurea‘Coombes Winter Glow ’ , Zones 5–9 ) is a gutless prickly Pyrus communis that still has the small glochidium , so deal it with care . Its blue - commons waxy stamp pad move around crimson - purpleness in cool weather . The bloom are a brilliant magenta .
Kingcup cactus
Kingcup cactus ( Echinocereus triglochidiatus , Zones 4–9 ) is found growing angry over a broad range of mountains of the Southwest in many shape and varieties . Also ring claret cup , this cactus is compact and long lived . Its midspring bloom of youth can vagabond from cryptical loss to soft salmon , or even white or yellow . Hummingbirds are more attracted to the red and orangish blossom . There is even a spineless form of this plant , Echinocereus triglochidiatusvar.mojavensisf.inermis , which is peculiarly nice .
Red yucca
Hesperaloeparviflora , Zones 5–10
Though earlier from central Texas , this specie , which is not a yucca at all , is grown throughout the world in warm climates . But it also does well down to Zone 5 when constitute in a sunny smudge with well - draining filth . Those in red-hot climates may see a springiness thrust of new inflorescence stalk that eventually weary during the hottest month of the class . Removing pod as they appear and furnish a bit of water may extend flowering . In cooler areas of the Southwest , the stalks often remain viable until hoar , producing new flushes of flowers after occasional rains . legion new hybrid have been produced in late years with variations in flower height and colouration , but it ’s hard to beat the original mintage for its warm coral flowers and ease of growth . But I ’ve been impressed with Pink Parade ® Hesperaloe(Hesperaloe‘Perfu ’ , Zones 6–10 ) , which is a hybrid of reddish yucca and another nativeHesperaloe . In accession to its pink prime , its leave bend a pale pink in areas with cold winter .
Beaked yucca
Yuccarostrata , Zones 5–10
heaps of trueyuccasadorn southwestern garden . Some are tiny , and some have nearly lifespan - menace 3 - foot - long blade . This metal money is in the middle of those two extremes . Its graceful domes of narrow ash gray - blue leaves are flexible and shimmer in the wind . It boast monolithic flower spikes that are creamy white and softly fragrant . This flora creates an architectural focal point as its torso explicate , reaching up to 10 infantry tall over time .
Regardless of your EL and your hardiness zone , flora one of these versatile native plant for a reliable performance . For more plants that fly high in the high desert and low desert , click here :
— Dan Johnson live and garden in Denver and in Tucson , Arizona . He is an associate director of horticulture for the Denver Botanic Gardens .
Photos : Dan Johnson
Fine Gardening Recommended product
Pruning Simplified : A Step - by - Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs
Fine horticulture receives a direction for items purchased through connectedness on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programme .
ARS Telescoping Long Reach Pruner
institute in a Post - dotty World : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Get our recent tip , how - to articles , and instructional telecasting sent to your inbox .
Signing you up …
Related Articles
Inspiration from Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Rose for the Southwest
Cold-Hardy Succulents for the Low Desert
Fragrant Blooms for the Low Desert
Join Fine Gardening for a spare prosecute live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technological manager …
When I spotted a particular moxie dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few calendar month ago , I knew I was in fuss . With a delightful color pattern …
When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape painting motivation , each time of year is filled with a never - ending tilt of chores : pruning , pinching , lachrymation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be heedful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to jaunt on something , but because you might be dive - flunk by a span …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access member get more
signal up for afree trialand get access to ALL our regional capacity , plus the rest of the penis - only content subroutine library .
Start Free Trial
Get complete site access to expert advice , regional content , and more , plus the print magazine .
Start your FREE trial
Already a member?access
Certain cold-hardy agaves like this New Mexico agave thrive all over the Southwest.
Toumey’s agave is a small plant that will nevertheless fill an area with its many offsets of rosettes.
‘Bubba’ desert willow’s deeply pink flowers have a long season of bloom.
‘Wild Thing’ autumn sage remains one of the most beloved sages for its vigorous growth and hot pink flowers.
Kingcup cactus is a charming native species with bright orange flowers, but many naturally occurring varieties exist with different-colored flowers.
Red yucca is a largeHesperaloewith salmon-colored flowers.
Beaked yucca, pictured here behind swaths of licorice mint agastache (Agastacherupestris, Zones 5–9), makes an architectural statement with its countless small, thin blades of foliage.
